The European Union officially handed over the newly constructed 163-meter-long Nyamlel Bridge across the Lol River to the Ministry of Roads and Bridges in Aweil West County on Thursday.
According to a press release extended to The Radio Community, the completion of the Nyamlel Bridge, along with feeder roads and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) facilities, has significantly improved the living standards of over 1.2 million women, men, and children in the Bahr el Ghazal region of South Sudan.
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) implemented the bridge and the European Union funded it under the "European Union Trust Fund—Feeder Roads Project". The project began in August 2020.
In May 2023, the bridge underwent a partial public opening and is now fully operational. With a €13 million investment from the EU, UNOPS successfully completed the construction of the Nyamlel Bridge, 44 kilometers of feeder roads, and seven WASH facilities in Northern and Western Bahr el Ghazal states.
The bridge connects Aweil North and Aweil West counties to Sudan, directly benefiting over 750,000 people.
During the handover ceremony, Minister of Roads and Bridges, Simon Mijok Mijak, highlighted the bridge's impact:
“The completion of this project has significantly enhanced security by enabling our forces to reach remote areas more efficiently and preventing accidents while crossing the river. The bridge will also facilitate the movement of refugees and returnees from Sudan and boost trade by improving the transport of goods. It is a valuable asset for local communities, providing safer, faster, and more reliable access to services and markets.”
The project provided direct employment to 1,260 people, including 200 women. UNOPS Country Manager, Ms. Petronella Halwiindi, praised the EU for its generous funding, noting, “The completion of these essential feeder roads and WASH facilities has improved access to clean water, healthcare, education, and agricultural inputs. These improvements have reduced transaction costs and fostered the emergence of community mobile markets along the routes, thereby enhancing livelihoods.”
Ms. Halwiindi also emphasized that the project's completion has elevated the living standards of over 1.2 million people. She reaffirmed UNOPS’s commitment to partnering with South Sudan in finding durable solutions to development challenges.
The European Union Ambassador to South Sudan, H.E. Timo Olkkonen, addressed the decades-long impact of armed conflict and climate change on the nation's road network.
“I am pleased to witness this milestone in Nyamlel. The EU remains committed to supporting the development and resilience of South Sudan’s economy,” he said.
Ambassador Olkkonen further highlighted that the new infrastructure aligns with the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, which aims to invest in better connectivity infrastructure for sustainable global development.
He stressed the importance of maintaining the bridge to preserve this critical development investment for the benefit of the local population.
The EU Trust Fund project was designed to build on the successes of previous EU-funded initiatives in Northern and Western Bahr el Ghazal, where rural infrastructure development has significantly improved connectivity and access to essential services.
This project effectively addressed gaps from prior initiatives, which could not cover some key roads and bridges due to budget constraints.
The Nyamlel Bridge now serves as a crucial link between Aweil North and West counties.
The handover event was attended by several dignitaries, including Simon Mijok Mijak, national minister of Roads and Bridges; Simon Uber Mawut, governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State; and Timo Olkkonen, EU ambassador to South Sudan, among other stakeholders and guests.
